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Melvin, Wedge Earn Manager Of Year Honors

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The Associated Press

Published: November 15, 2007

NEW YORK - Bob Melvin and Eric Wedge barely made a ripple as players. Backup catchers, they both batted a pedestrian .233 in the big leagues.

All that time spent pondering on the bench paid off. Far more successful in the dugout than on the field, they were honored Wednesday as managers of the year.

Wedge became the first Cleveland manager to win the AL award, chosen by a wide margin after the Indians and Boston tied for the best record in baseball. Melvin was the first Arizona manager to get the NL prize, picked after leading his young team to the top mark in the league.

Wedge and Melvin are among nearly a dozen former catchers who manage in the majors.

"There's been quite the trend," Wedge said on a conference call. "The catcher has to be aware and knowledgeable of every aspect.

"It's a leadership position. That position demands a great amount of passion for your teammates and the game of baseball."

Wedge received 19 of the 28 first-place votes and got 116 points in balloting by the Baseball Writers' Association of America, finishing ahead of the Angels' Mike Scioscia (62 points).

Melvin was chosen on 19 of the 30 first-place ballots and got 119 points. Philadelphia's Charlie Manuel (76) and Colorado's Clint Hurdle followed.

Stay-Rod? Rodriguez Speaks With Yankees

NEW YORK - In a startling turn of events, Alex Rodriguez and his wife met with New York Yankees executives Hal and Hank Steinbrenner on Wednesday in Tampa and told them he wants to stay in pinstripes.

His longtime agent, Scott Boras, wasn't involved in the talks. Yankees officials sounded confident the negotiations could lead to an agreement.

"The past is the past. I don't know what brought about him approaching us," Yankees senior vice president Hank Steinbrenner said in a telephone interview. "I guess you could say things didn't go the way before that he intended on and weren't handled properly or whatever.

"But the bottom line, the only thing that really matters, is he wants to stay a Yankee. And it could be very well that he's always wanted to stay a Yankee and we just didn't know it."

Rodriguez, likely to win his third AL MVP award next week, had not made any public statements since the Yankees lost to Cleveland in the first round of the playoffs. After consulting with his wife and family, Rodriguez reached out to Hank and his brother, Hal, through a third party.

"It became clear to me that I needed to make an attempt to engage the Yankees regarding my future with the organization," Rodriguez said in a statement. "Prior to entering into serious negotiations with other clubs, I wanted the opportunity to share my thoughts directly with Yankees' ownership. We know there are other opportunities for us, but Cynthia and I have a foundation with the club that has brought us comfort, stability and happiness."

Before Rodriguez terminated his record $252 million, 10-year contract Oct. 28 - forfeiting $72 million over the final three seasons - Boras told the Yankees they would have to make a $350 million offer just to get a meeting with the third baseman.

New York was notified of A-Rod's decision to opt out during Game 4 of the World Series, and the timing angered Commissioner Bud Selig and his staff.
Hank Steinbrenner and General Manager Brian Cashman said talks were over because the Yankees lost the $21.3 million subsidy the Texas Rangers agreed to at the time of the 2004 trade that sent A-Rod to New York.

But after A-Rod hit the open market, the Los Angeles Angels were the only team that expressed a public desire to explore signing him.

NO DICE? Daisuke Matsuzaka might miss the Boston Red Sox's 2008 season opener at the Tokyo Dome.

The Japanese pitcher's wife is expecting their second baby around the time of the March 25 opener against the Oakland Athletics, which was announced Wednesday morning. Red Sox president Larry Lucchino said the team and the commissioner's office were aware of the potential conflict.

BRAVES: Team officials held their first formal talks in pursuit of 300-game winner Tom Glavine, hoping to lure him back to Atlanta to finish his career.

YANKEES: Hideki Matsui had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee, and the outfielder is expected to be ready for the start of spring training.

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